Navaratri celebrations are set to begin in the first week of October, with Thiruvananthapuram once again becoming the venue for a festival that draws global attention. A meeting involving various government departments, elected representatives, and officials from places of worship—including the Padmanabhaswamy Temple—was held today to discuss preparations for the smooth conduct of this festival, which sees the participation of lakhs of people and involves traditions like Ayudha Puja and Vidyarambham, shared by both Kerala and Tamil Nadu.